Take control of these authentically recreated steam, electric and diesel locomotives. Drive one of Amtrak's new high-speed electric trains on the busy North-east Corridor. Race along some of England's most beautiful countryside in the world-famous Flying Scotsman or guide the Orient-Express through the Austrian Alps for the ultimate in romantic European train travel. Take on real-world challenges as you operate nine realistically modeled locomotives in breath-taking routes for Europe, Asia and North America. Microsoft Train Simulator is you ticket to experiencing railroading like never before! Six highly detailed train routes from around the world with over 600 total miles of rail, carefully recreated with accurate elevation and terrain data, to mirror the real-world scenWindows 95/98/ME/2000 XP Pentium II 266 MHz equivalent or higher processor with 4 MB 3D video hardware acceleration or better, or a Pentium II 350 MHz equivalent or higher processor Microsoft Windows ' 95, Windows 98, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 2000 or Windows XP operating system (Does not support Windows NT') 32 MB of RAM for Windows 95, Windows 98, Windows ME; 64 MB for Windows 2000 500 MB of available hard disk space for a minimum install Approximately 1.5 GB of available hard disk space for a full install DirectX ' 7. 0a API or later DirectX 7. 0a or later compatible 4 MB video card capable of 800 x 600 resolution in 32K colors DirectX 7. 0a or later compatible sound card with speakers or headphones for audio Quad- speed CD-ROM drive Microsoft Mouse or compatible pointing device Super VGA, 1-bit color monitor or better supporting 800 x 600 resolution . ery, industry, and towns along the routes. Routes include both historic and contemporary rail operations: Amtrak - the "bullet train" comes to America with Amtrak's new Acela high-speed train running the busy U.S. Northeast Corridor. Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway - experience the challenges and awesome power of moving today's freight through the spectacular Marias Pass and along the southern border of Glacier National Park in Montana. The Flying Scotsman Railways - race along some of England's most beautiful countryside in the late 1920's in what is arguably the world's most famous steam locomotive. Kyushu Railway Company - explore the mountainous Hisatsu line on Japan's southern island of Kyushu. Odakyu Electric Railway - navigate one of the busiest commuter lines out of Tokyo or take in the breathtaking scenery of Mt. Fuji. The Venice - visit the Austrian Alps in the 1930s for the ultimate in romantic European steam train travel. The most realistic experience of rail equipment ever brought to the PC - placing you in the cab of each detailed locomotive, with accurate, fully-functional gauges and working controls that you manipulate. Whether it's working the regulator on a steam engine or the air brake system on a modern diesel, you are in control. Authentic train and route sound recordings of the actual equipment and locations. Whether in the cab or standing by the tracks, you'll hear the distinctive hissing of the Flying Scotsman as it gets up a head of steam, the throaty rumble of a Dash 9 diesel as it hauls its load of freight, and the distinctive sounds of jointed, wooden-tie track versus welded, concrete-tie track. Real-world rail Activities based on operational events unique to each route. Players can choose from a variety of challenges, such as keeping to a strict passenger timetable amidst unforeseen obstacles, or using helper engines to get a 50-car intermodal train over Marias Pass during a winter storm. Alternatively, you can enjoy any of the routes from a passenger or observer view - just sit back, let the computer control the realistic rail operations, and enjoy the sight and sounds of your journey. An open architecture, and tools that encoura